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| Picture toward beginning of Treatment |
Perseverance Pays Off - A Look Into My Scoliosis Treatment Journey
I was in a very gloomy place before my scoliosis treatment. I dealt with pain, postural deformity, fear, and extreme insecurity. My ortho doctor had told me that it was best for me to just live with my condition, and didn't offer any available treatment options. I feared for my future, and how scoliosis would affect me as I aged. I was extremely insecure, so wore baggie clothes to hide it and never told people that I had scoliosis!
After an emotional breakdown following a clothing shopping trip I did an online search for treatment and found ScoliosisKC, Dr. Nick Weddle (a CLEAR scoliosis doctor). I began treatment at age 38 years old. I proceeded with treatment with great ambition and dedication. This was my option, my chance for change. I knew if I did nothing I would continue to be miserable with my condition, but by fighting I had HOPE for change! So I was "All In" to do whatever I needed to do - I'd had enough of Scoliosis controlling my life! It was time for change!
The treatment program I did was 18 visits (3 times a week) as I was local --- there are options to do a treatment program for 1-2 weeks for those out of town. My treatment visits were about 2 hours. It consisted of an adjustment, vibration therapy, and exercises to correct curvature and retrain neurological control of the spine. In addition to the in-office treatment, I did home therapies/exercises (an hour before work, and an hour after work). After my 18 visits I chose to continue to go to the office once a week for a treatment and do my home therapy exercises. Here are a few pictures from my treatment.
Within 6 weeks of treatment the pain I was experiencing was gone. I saw changes in my posture through treatment, but it didn't happen overnight. There were times I had to push myself to keep going as results were not immediate. I had days that I felt like giving up, and wondering if all of the work I was putting in was going to pay off, but I was determined! One thing I knew for sure is if I didn't try I would have no chance to change anything -- this kept me going! Success is reliant on the first step - if we never take it failure in inevitable. So I pressed on, and I'm so happy I did! If I would have given up I never would have achieved the results I did - that kind of scares me to think about!
Here's a picture comparison 6 months into treatment, and then 1 year into treatment!
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Left Pic: 6 months into treatment, Right Pic: 1 year into treatment
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I continued doing the full routine of my home exercises and therapies for 2 1/2 years which again was for 2 hours a day - 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening. I was determined to get the best possible results!! At this point I was very happy with the results I achieved, but was interested to know the likelihood of any further correction - I was on a mission!
Auto Response Training is one of the main components of my treatment. The development of this exercise/therapy was led by former CLEAR doctor, now ScoliSMART doctor Brian Dovorany, so obviously I desired his thoughts on my case, and Set-up. I visited his office in Wisconsin for a mini boot camp, and assessment.
Dr. Dovorany was a wealth of information, and went over my case with me in detail. He thought I still had the ability to achieve a little more correction.
I was still super motivated to fight, but I was ready to lesson the amount of time I was doing my daily exercises. Based on his recommendations I began doing my Auto Response Training (pictured above) twice a day for 20 minutes, of course I try to do it longer. So now I do 40-60 minutes of exercise a day, in addition to doing treatment once a week with Dr. Nick Weddle. Also, about 2 years after my treatment began the Scoliosis Activity Suit became a stand alone treatment for adults, so I added it to my treatment fight.
So I now focus on achieving what correction I still can, and halting future progression which is so important to me! Before I started treatment my curve progressed 8.5 degrees in a 5 year period, which averages out to 1.7 degrees per year. If my curve continued to progress at that same rate without treatment my curve would now be 49.3 degrees! My curve is currently 35.8 degrees down from 42.5 degrees. So, not only have I been able to halt progression, but also gained some correction.
So through my treatment I've been able to eliminate my pain, improve my postural deformity, gain confidence, stop fearing for my future, and effectively fight future progression. I will not stop fighting!
Here's a picture of me yesterday in a swimsuit! I would NEVER have worn a swimsuit in public before treatment, but yesterday I did with confidence! I'm thankful everyday for how my life has changed. It took hard work and commitment to achieve what I did - the road wasn't easy, but it was worth it all!
Perseverance paid off for me! It changed my life, and how I live each day!
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About Marce Kuhns:
I was diagnosed with scoliosis at 12 years old. I tried wearing a hard plastic brace, but stopped due to the pain. I had no other treatment options other than to "watch and wait" to see what happened. By my early twenties I was experiencing pain and had developed a noticeable postural deformity. I was very self conscience, and did everything possible to hide my condition - never talking about it! I visited several doctors throughout the years and was told it was best to just live with it. This made me feel helpless and fearful for my future. 26 years after my diagnosis I found a rehab based treatment for scoliosis that changed my life! It eliminated my pain, improved my postural deformity, reduced my curvature by 15 percent, gave me confidence, and eliminated my fear. To make a statement that I would "Hide No More," I had my back painted and photographed. This was a huge step for me! 
I began sharing my journey on facebook to spread hope and awareness The Crooked Life. My pain became my passion! So much so that I left my job of 15 years to start working for the doctor who helped change my life to be apart of helping others with scoliosis. In addition, my husband and I recently started a charity The Crooked Life Foundation to provide Scoliosis Activity Suits to patients who are unable to afford them. Providing HOPE is my heart!
